27 July 2011

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Officials from the National Antiterrorism Agency (BNPT), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police have agreed that the TNI must take the initiative domestically to curb religious radicals.

"We have demanded the TNI's participation through their vast network of territorial commands to persuade individuals or groups to abandon radical teachings," BNPT chief Ansyaad Mbai.

The statement by former general Slamet Singgih on Tuesday about a secret meeting to plan the infamous July 27, 1996, attack on the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) was applauded by local activists.

Mugiyanto Sipin, the head of the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared, said that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should follow up on the revelation.

17 July 2011

"Thirteen years ago Suharto had to be overthrown. This decision was a brilliant move from a generation..." -- Nurul Khawari, one of those that took part in the overthrow of Suharto's New Order regime in May 1998, Solo Post, May 5, 2011.

Democracy is the mother of prosperity, justice, equality, culture and all forms of creativity beneficial for the future of humanity. But it was not just for the sake of democracy that the Indonesian people overthrew Suharto in 1998, but also for justice and prosperity. It was not for reformasi (the political reform process that began in 1998) that students and the people occupied the House of Representatives (DPR), but for an Indonesia free from the threat of the gun and military spies, free from corruption and nepotism, for a prosperity where basic commodities would be affordable. Democracy was the tool; democracy was the means, to achieve the aim of human liberation from oppression by other humans. Without democracy, humanity becomes black and white, colourless, and prosperity becomes a commodity owned by those in power.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tifatul Sembiring said that the Indonesian government was obligated to serve as a gatekeeper for the Internet, including social media.

According to Tifatul, stricter controls were necessary to prevent Indonesia from suffering the same fate as Tunisia and Libya, where huge portions of those populations rose up to depose autocratic rulers.

"The government is obligated to control the Internet," he said on Thursday. "Don't let uprisings, like what happened to Tunisia and Libya -- who failed in controlling the social media like Facebook and Twitter -- happen to us,"

Ismira Lutfia -- In a show of solidarity with Malaysian activists calling for electoral reforms in their country, a number of Indonesian civil society organizations staged a rally on Tuesday in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta.

The protestors also mimicked the act of cleaning the gate with mops and brushes. Some of the protesters were also wearing masks depicting characters from the popular "Upin & Ipin" animated children's show, which is set in rural Malaysia.

Jakarta/Brussels -- Indonesia should put the passage of a controversial intelligence bill on hold until there is a more comprehensive assessment of its security needs, according to a new report by the International Crisis Group.

"Indonesia: Debate Over a New Intelligence Bill" looks at the debate that the draft law has produced over the role of the intelligence services in a democracy, many of whose citizens are still sceptical that once repressive institutions have actually changed, a news release says.

I write to inform you of the case of Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and ask you for his immediate release. Somyot was arrested on the 30th April 2011 as editor of the Voice of Taksin magazine and is currently being held at Bangkok Remand Prison, in Bangkok.

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk is a loyal Thai citizen who is strongly committed to Human Rights in his role as an independent journalist and labour activist promoting freedom of speech.

We understand that Somyot was arrested on a charge of defaming, insulting and threatening the King, Queen and heir apparent (Section112 of the Penal Code) a charge which he fully denies. He also was not aware that any arrest warrant had previously been issued and strongly denies any claim that he resisted arrest.

We understand that the Criminal Court agreed with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has extended the detention of Somyot without bail, something we believe to be an unacceptable abuse of Somyot's human rights. His case is due for review on the 24th July 2011 and we urge you to intervene and allow him to be released.

14 July 2011

Jakarta -- More than 70 noted experts and activists issued a declarationon Sunday condemning a House bill regulating the nation's intelligence agencies, saying it would return authoritarian rule to Indonesia.

The bill was premature and would lead to abuses of power similar to thosethat occurred under former president Soeharto's, according to thedeclaration.

"Lawmakers on the House of Representatives' Commission I overseeingdefense must cancel deliberations of the bill, or possibly drop it," thestatement said. "Lawmakers should first start collecting public opinionabout an ideal bill before starting deliberations."

Jakarta -- Out-dated perspectives on viewing security problems are being strengthened through the Draft Law on National Security (RUU Keamanan Nasional).

Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) activist Indria Fernida, who was sought out following a public hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I on defense, foreign affairs and communication on Monday July 4, explained that the approach used by the draft national security law very much prioritises a security perspective ala former President Suharto's New Order regime and overrides basic humanitarian principles.

5 July 2011

# 1BERSIH 2.0 is an independent coalition of non-government organsiations and is unaffiliated to any political party.

BERSIH 2.0 is the name of a group of 62 non-government organisations called the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections. It is a coalition of like minded civil society organisations unaffiliated to any political party.

BERSIH 2.0 has invited ALL political parties to participate in the walk for democracy on 9 July. However, BN component parties haverejected the invitation.

2 July 2011

[The following is a selection of articles from the Indonesian media on a national day of action organised by the Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (PEMBEBASAN, <http://pembebasan-pusat.blogspot.com/>, formerly LMND-PRM) against the Draft Law on Intelligence and State Security currently being deliberated by the House of Representatives. In addition to the actions in Jakarta, Makassar, Medan, Samarinda and Yogyakarta translated below, PEMBEBASAN along with other progressive organisations also held protest actions in Bandung, Balikpapan and Ternate.]

Solidarity with Journalists in Sri Lanka, Defend democratic rights!

Free Baba Jan and all political prisoners in Pakistan!

Free All Political Prisoners in Papua

Free Somyot; Free Thailand

People's Liberation Party

PEOPLE'S LIBERATION PARTY is a new name for Political Committee of The Poor - People's Democratic Party (KPRM-PRD). We decided to remove PRD as our historical identity since it’s no longer relevant to be maintained. This is also to move forward our struggle as a revolutionary party in Indonesia to be part of the people of the whole world's struggle for socialism in 21st century.

Visitor

Politic of the Poor

The politics of the poor is an alternative, a rival perspective based on the strength of the peoples own resistance, based non the principles of non-cooptation with the enemies of the people.

The concrete manifestation of the politics of the poor is the broadening and unifying of the peoples resistance, a unifying of the peoples mobilizations raising up demands and solutions to the socio-economic problems of the people. These mobilizations must grow and enter into every political arena of the poor, and the elections are just one of these.

No matter how difficult, the building of the peoples own strength to resist must be carried out, the problems must be overcome; this task cannot be avoided. Because this is the only way to make a Revolution, a Revolution that will open the way to Socialism in Indonesia.

Solidarity for Papua 2010

Header poster

Koran Pembebasan

Bimonthly paper of People Liberation Party

Waaeee, waaeooo... we can do it.

The honor and respect afforded to star West Papuan athletes playing in Indonesian colours at this year's SEA Games stands in stark contrast to the economic marginalization, discrimination and poverty Papuans face in their own land – home to the giant Freeport gold and copper mine – which saw profits double to $1.4 billion in the 2nd quarter of 2011 alone but contributes a measly 1% of its revenue to local communities whose environment and livelihoods are being decimated by the mine's operations. Kompas - November 16, 2011